Dasuki's Arrest Order: Fear Grips Former Service Chiefs

Fear grips former service chiefs following
Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the arrest
and trial of public servants and military officers
indicted by the presidential panel investigating
the purchase of arms and ammunition.

According to informed security sources, the
response made by Sambo Dasuki to the order
has also made them worry as the former
national security adviser gave away some of
their names as witnesses to prove his
innocence.
Speaking with Leadership, a security source
confirmed that former service chiefs who
served in the administration of the ex-president
Goodluck Jonathan are currently in a dilemma.
“I can confirm it on good authority that the ex-
service chiefs have been calling some top military
officers, trying to find out the level of their
involvement in the committee’s findings, and
most have reached out to the current NSA,
pleading to return some of the alleged missing
funds to avoid the president’s sledge hammer as
well as prosecution.
“I am aware that some of these former (service)
chiefs are away from the country for now. Shortly
after their retirements, they relocated abroad at
least to rest but what is happening now must
have thrown them into a panic because they know
deep down in their hearts that the performance of
our troops under their watch was unacceptable to
the Commander-in-Chief (Buhari) right from the
electioneering days. I was shocked at reading the
statement issued by Dasuki and that has pitched
them against the president.”
“Whoever is indicted by the panel among them, or
whose name was mentioned in Dasuki’s
response, would be in a dilemma now, whether to
clear himself or keep silent until he is
summoned,” the source said.
According to another top military officer,
whatever happens in the court will show
whether due process was followed or not on
Dasuki’s watch.
“The on-going probe may consume those who
played one role or the other in all the contracts
awarded. I am aware all the contracts for the
purchase of the arms and other equipment got the
approval of former president Goodluck Jonathan
but they were all handled by the office of the
national security adviser,” he said.

A middle-level officer expressed disappointment
in how soldiers and officers lost their lives in
the ongoing war against the Boko Haram sect
over poor ammunition.
“I remember our days in Maiduguri; it was God
that saved us. Whoever is indicted must be
sanctioned as deterrence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dasuki has released an official
statement , in which he said that he always
acted in the interest of the nation and with
utmost fear of God.
“In order not to endanger the nation’s security,
there are many salient issues and contracts
which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready
for trial on all these allegations in order to prove
to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office.
We will certainly meet in court,” he stated.